Subban brings a lot to the ice for Canadiens

Midland Mirror

MIDLAND – The first time I watched PK Subban was at the 2008 world junior hockey championships. He was a seventh defenceman that year, but it was easy to see he was something special.
He was a character, excited anytime his team scored, and he displayed an offensive flair few can muster. By the time the 2009 world juniors rolled around, he had become an important part of Canada winning a fifth straight gold medal.
I thought whoever drafted him would be one lucky team. To my delight, it was my favourite team (and Subban’s), the Montreal Canadiens who picked him 43rd overall in the 2007 NHL draft. It can now be considered a massive steal, since only one defenceman from that draft class (Washington’s Karl Alzner, fifth overall) has played more games than Subban, and only one (St. Louis’s Kevin Shattenkirk, 14th overall) has more points.
Since he has become an NHLer, Subban has been a polarizing figure. His detractors claim he is an arrogant, dirty player, and he has rubbed some people the wrong way. Los Angeles Kings forward Mike Richards has said Subban needs to learn respect. Don Cherry has warned him that he will get what’s coming to him if he doesn’t smarten up. For Subban, such comments just add fuel to the fire.
His supporters see a hardworking defenceman who can contribute at both ends of the rink, is tough to play against and comes to play every night.
Subban was thrust into a starring role in his rookie season in 2010-11 when Montreal blue-liners Andrei Markov and Josh Gorges were lost for the season with knee injuries. He stepped up and played huge minutes, and his personality won over the Montreal faithful.
However, his sophomore season last year was a rollercoaster in a lot of ways. He was guilty of slewfoots, was benched at times by interim head coach Randy Cunneyworth, and experienced backlash from critics who were disappointed his numbers declined.
It was a dysfunctional season for the Canadiens, but Subban led the Montreal Canadiens defence corps in ice time with an average of more than 24 minutes a night, and he improved his plus/minus from -8 to +9. Considering the Habs were the third-worst team in the NHL, it’s impressive.
He continued to bring his in-your-face style and has sent the Bell Centre into frenzies with big hits and end-to-end rushes.
As good as Subban is on the ice, he is a giving person off it. He is a part of Hyundai Hockey Helpers, which helps kids in need who can’t afford equipment and fees. He even offered for Alex Galchenyuk, Montreal’s top pick in 2012, to stay with him during training camp.
Although Subban is currently without a contract, he is making good use of the lockout, appearing on CTV Montreal as the weatherman and even lending his analysis to Sportsnet’s “Friday Night Hockey” panel, where he fit right in.
Earlier this year, Subban and his younger brothers Malcolm and Jordan, who both play for the OHL’s Belleville Bulls, made an appearance on “George Stroumboulopoulos Tonight,” where the talented Subbans were being compared to the Staal brothers as the next hockey royal family. During the interview, it was clear that Subban appreciates the sacrifice his parents made in helping him and his brothers reach their dream as hockey players.
So far, the sacrifices and hard work are paying off.